Climbing the Mountain With My 9 Year Old

As I mentioned previously, we spent last weekend in the NC mountains. One of the funnest things about our time up there was the hiking and climbing through and up the mountains. (The climbing was by stairs, not by ropes.) At Chimney Rock State Park we hiked to the Hickory Nut Falls. I really appreciated the view.

My family enjoying time together.

Then we all climbed the 491 stairs to the top of the 315 feet tall rock chimney. Of course we took plenty of photos of the beautiful valley below and mountains surrounding, but I noticed another set of stairs and another trail behind and above Chimney Rock.

Hmmm. Where does that go? I asked the park ranger/attendant standing on the Chimney Rock summit, and learned that there are more summits further up the mountain. I was especially interested in Exclamation Point — the highest peak in the park; another 200 feet up the stairs and trail. It was a challenge that called my name. Wifegrit and Calfgrit13 were done with climbing and wanted to sit and rest before heading back down — it really is quite a climb — but Calfgrit9 was eager to go with me.

CG9 and I parted with the other two and headed on our way to the next summit. Devil’s Head is about halfway up, and it looks down on Chimney Rock.

My little guy and I continued our trek up the mountain. The climb is not easy. Sure, it’s using steps and a trail, not ropes up a wall, but after having already climbed 500 steps, going a few hundred more, in 85 degree heat, at much higher altitude than we low-landers are used to, is really tiring. I’m in pretty good fitness, and it still was a challenge for me. Calfgrit9 is half my height, so it was even more of a challenge for him. But he kept going, even leading the way half the time.

When we reached the top, we were tired and sweaty, and excited and proud. The summit is broad, bald rock, on which sat about a dozen other climbers. (Yes, everyone was sitting. Like I said, it’s tiring.) There was one couple who were probably in their 40s, but everyone else were 20-somethings. Calfgrit9 was by far the youngest climber there — there were no other kids around at all.

He plopped down on the rock, in the shade, and rested while I walked around the edge to see what the view was.

When I came back to him, I sat down and said, “Whenever you’re ready to go, just let me know. No rush. We can sit here and look around as long as we want.”

“OK,” he said, “just a minute.”

We talked a few minutes, and I told him how proud I was of him for taking on this challenge, and how happy I was that we could do it together. I took a selfie with him, (which I won’t show here, because we were both sweaty and looked worn out). He’s such a good kid.

After a few more minutes of rest, we got up and started our way back down. When we got back to Chimney Rock, and Wifegrit and Calfgrit13, we both were excited to tell about our adventure. When asked how tiring it was, CG9 said, “I don’t quit when I’m tired. I quit when I done.” That’s a motivational quote I posted on our refrigerator at home to remind me to keep up my exercise regimens. It made me grin to hear him say it.

All of us then reversed our climb back down to the parking lot and my truck. We were all worn out, and happy about it. That was a really fun day, challenge, and exercise. And I am extra happy that my little Calfgrit9 took it all on with me, happily and energetically. He’s a great kid.

Bullgrit